The numbers are in: 10.6 million vehicles sold in 2017.

[UPDATE] The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance has posted the final sales numbers for 2017, with combined sales standing at 10,608,366 units. Group Renault moved 8.5 percent more cars last year by delivering 3,761,634 vehicles, while Nissan shipped 5,816,278 units (up by 4.6%). As for Mitsubishi, the company saw a 10% boost in deliveries, at 1,030,454 cars. See the attached press release below for a more in-depth look at the numbers based on automaker and region.

Despite the Dieselgate issue, it’s safe to say the Volkswagen Group had an exceptional 2017. Customer deliveries rose by a significant 4.3 percent to a record 10.74 million vehicles. December was a particularly successful month for VAG, with nearly 1 million (998,800 units) shipped all over the world, representing an 8.5% increase compared to December 2016.

But was that enough to allow the VW Group hold on to its sales crown? If you’re asking the newly formed Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, the answer would have to be “no.” According to the alliance’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn, the company he’s running is technically the biggest car manufacturer in the world with more than 10.6 million light private and commercial vehicles sold.

Yes, 10.6M < 10.74M, but the man in charge at the French-Japanese alliance argues that while they’re not including the amount of heavy trucks delivered, the Germans are factoring in sales coming from Scania and MAN. These two brands account for roughly 200,000 units of the VW Group’s total sales. Without these, VAG is in second place, according to Ghosn. He went on to mention “there can be no further discussion” about who claimed the number one spot in 2017: the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which also includes Russia’s AvtoVAZ , Romania’s Dacia, as well as the revived Datsun low-cost brand.

Toyota’s final numbers for last year have not been published, but the company expects to take third place with 10.35M vehicles or 2% more than in 2016. For 2018, Toyota – including Lexus, Daihatsu, Hino – estimates it will further boost sales and hit 10.5M.

When it comes down to premium automakers, Mercedes claimed first position in 2017 with around 2.3 million cars, thus eclipsing BMW and its 2.08M performance. Audi had to settle for third place with 1.87M units delivered worldwide.

As a refresher, the top three automakers (including the other companies they own) of 2016 were the Volkswagen Group (10.3M), followed by Toyota (10.2M) and Renault-Nissan (9.96M).

PARIS/YOKOHAMA/TOKYO (January 30, 2018) - Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, the world’s leading automotive Alliance, today announced that its member companies sold a combined total of 10,608,366 units in the 12 months to December 31, 2017.

Growing demand for SUVs, light commercial vehicles and a rising number of zero-emission pure electric vehicles helped lift unit sales by 6.5 percent in 2017, the first full-year of Mitsubishi Motors’ membership of the Alliance.

With more than 10.6 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold in 2017, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi has become the number-one automotive group worldwide. This evolution reflects the breadth and depth of our model range, our global market presence and the customer appeal of our vehicle technologies.

Groupe Renault’s sales were up 8.5 percent to 3,761,634 units in 2017. It was a record year for Renault, the world’s leading French brand and number-two brand in Europe, and also for Dacia. Renault is seeking continued growth in 2018, buoyed by the development of its international activities and its renewed range, in line with its Drive The Future plan.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. sold 5,816,278 vehicles worldwide, up 4.6 percent, and shared details of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company’s six-year strategic plan. In the USA and China in 2017, the company achieved sales growth of 1.9 percent and 12.2 percent respectively. Infiniti sold 246,492 vehicles in 2017, an increase of 7 percent from the previous year.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation sold 1,030,454 vehicles in 2017, up 10 percent from 2016. The increase in volume was led by China, a key market for Mitsubishi Motors’ Drive For Growth plan. Annual sales rose by 56 percent, to 129,160 units. China became Mitsubishi Motors’ largest market thanks to strong demand for the locally produced Outlander.

Performance in the ASEAN region was also strong with an increase of 17 percent to 242,224 units, thanks to the launch of XPANDER – a compact multi-purpose vehicle - in Indonesia. In Japan, sales increased by 7 percent as the marketing of kei-cars resumed.

Sustained leadership in electric vehicles

Since 2010, when the Nissan LEAF was first introduced, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi has sold 540,623 electric vehicles worldwide through its different brands. Cumulatively, the Alliance continues as the global leader for 100% electric passenger cars and light commercial electric vehicles.

The Nissan LEAF, the first mainstream, mass-marketed electric vehicle, remains the world’s best-selling EV with more than 300,000 vehicles sold since its launch in December 2010.

During 2017, the new Nissan LEAF was unveiled and offers customers greater range, advanced technologies and a dynamic new design. It went on sale in Japan last year, and will be rolled out in other major markets during 2018. The new Nissan LEAF received over 40,000 orders globally including 13,000 orders in Japan; 13,000 reservations in the United States; and over 12,000 orders in Europe.

In addition to the LEAF, Nissan’s e-NV200, a light commercial vehicle sold mainly in Europe and Japan, has also recently been upgraded with an additional 100km of driving range in Europe.

In 2017 Renault remained, for the third consecutive year, the leader in Europe’s electric-vehicle segment with a market share of 23.8 percent and sales volumes increased by 38 percent. Renault ZOE was the best-selling EV in Europe, with sales increase by 44 percent. Since 2011, Renault has sold more than 150,000 electric vehicles worldwide, including Renault ZOE, Renault Kangoo Z.E., Fluence Z.E. and Renault Samsung Motors SM3 Z.E.. In 2017, Renault unveiled Master Z.E. thus announcing a range of zero-emission light commercial vehicles unique in the world (Twizy Cargo, company-car version of ZOE, Kangoo Z.E. and Master Z.E.).

In 2017, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi sold 91,000 EVs, up more than 11 percent from 2016.

Alliance 2022 strategic plan

As part of Alliance 2022 strategic plan, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is forecasting that annual synergies will exceed €10 billion by the end of 2022. In addition, 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles and 40 vehicles with autonomous drive technology will be launched. The introduction of new models and new technologies should lift the combined annual sales of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to more than 14 million units, generating revenues expected at $240 billion by the end of 2022.